2 reviews
A good deal of the pre-Production Code Betty Boop cartoons are daring and creative, with content that makes one amazed at what's gotten away with. While the later Betty Boop cartoons made after the Code was enforced are still watchable and exceptionally well-made, they are so toned down that they feel bland.
Fleischer were responsible for some brilliant cartoons, some of them still among my favourites. Their visual style was often stunning and some of the most imaginative and ahead of its time in animation. The character of Betty Boop, one of their most famous and prolific characters, may not be for all tastes and sadly not as popular now, but her sex appeal was quite daring for the time and to me there is an adorable sensual charm about her. The good news is that she has not lost her charm, despite being significantly toned down, she is still cute and her comic timing is good.
Pudgy steals the show however and is absolutely adorable, also bagging a few amusing moments.
The animation, as always, is extremely good, being beautifully drawn, crisply shaded and meticulous in detail. The music is infectious, lush and dynamic. There are some amusing moments and it is cute without being too saccharine. The voice is reliably good.
However, there is a vast preference for the Betty Boop cartoons that have a more surreal edge to the visuals and sharper and more risqué material. Although cute and entertaining, there is still a tame feel and slight blandness. The story is also slight and predictable.
All in all, not Betty Boop at her best but for a post-Production Code cartoon (which were a very mixed bag) 'Pudgy Picks a Fight' fares quite well. 7/10 Bethany Cox
Fleischer were responsible for some brilliant cartoons, some of them still among my favourites. Their visual style was often stunning and some of the most imaginative and ahead of its time in animation. The character of Betty Boop, one of their most famous and prolific characters, may not be for all tastes and sadly not as popular now, but her sex appeal was quite daring for the time and to me there is an adorable sensual charm about her. The good news is that she has not lost her charm, despite being significantly toned down, she is still cute and her comic timing is good.
Pudgy steals the show however and is absolutely adorable, also bagging a few amusing moments.
The animation, as always, is extremely good, being beautifully drawn, crisply shaded and meticulous in detail. The music is infectious, lush and dynamic. There are some amusing moments and it is cute without being too saccharine. The voice is reliably good.
However, there is a vast preference for the Betty Boop cartoons that have a more surreal edge to the visuals and sharper and more risqué material. Although cute and entertaining, there is still a tame feel and slight blandness. The story is also slight and predictable.
All in all, not Betty Boop at her best but for a post-Production Code cartoon (which were a very mixed bag) 'Pudgy Picks a Fight' fares quite well. 7/10 Bethany Cox
- TheLittleSongbird
- Feb 13, 2017
- Permalink
Okay, the premise is Pudgy witnessing Betty petting and cooing over her new fox fur, and being heartbroken at her faithlessness. Then, of course, Betty goes out, leaving the fox within easy reach of its jealous rival. Pudgy attacks! The fox's dangling paw seems to return his first blows, and the battle is on!
After a wild flurry of canine and vulpine bodies, the fox is stretched limply on the floor. Ha! Pudgy, with his usual mix of canine and human behavior, then notices that the fox has no pulse, no breath-- HORRORS! It's murder! The little dog then goes through frantic efforts to resuscitate his victim, all of course in vain. He suffers untold agonies of guilt and remorse at his deed, hallucinating various reprisals; only Betty can save him now! It's really an unusual outing for this little character, and well worth a look.
After a wild flurry of canine and vulpine bodies, the fox is stretched limply on the floor. Ha! Pudgy, with his usual mix of canine and human behavior, then notices that the fox has no pulse, no breath-- HORRORS! It's murder! The little dog then goes through frantic efforts to resuscitate his victim, all of course in vain. He suffers untold agonies of guilt and remorse at his deed, hallucinating various reprisals; only Betty can save him now! It's really an unusual outing for this little character, and well worth a look.